| Constituency | Dates |
|---|---|
| Stafford | 19 Nov. 1724 – 4 Feb. 1725 |
Master in Chancery Feb. 1724 – d.
Elde was appointed a master in Chancery by Lord Chancellor Macclesfield, giving him ‘5,000 guineas in gold and bank notes’, shortly before Macclesfield’s impeachment for selling such appointments.1Howell, State Trials, xvi. 871-2. He then stood for Stafford successfully against the 1st Viscount Chetwynd, who petitioned. When the petition came before the House
Thomas Foley [the other Member] said he was ordered by the borough to acquaint the House, that they could prove a bargain made for money, for Elde to resign his place [his seat] to Lord Chetwynd and that there were persons at the door to prove it and more at the town; so the report was put off for 10 days and those persons ordered to come up to prove their complaint at the Bar, and Mr. Elde not being in his place it was understood he must attend, though no order was made because it was only a complaint and not a charge.2Knatchbull Diary, 23 Jan. 1725.
Expelled the House for having corruptly attempted to compromise the petition before it was heard by the elections committee, he was soon afterwards made a bencher of his Inn, but did not stand again. He died 5 Mar. 1760.